Strapping machine

ABSTRACT

A strapping machine is disclosed which enables a prolonged life of the driving force supplying means for feeding/tightening a band such as an electric motor to be realized, and which enables maintenance operations such as replacement and adjustment of the parts to be carried out with ease, and whose structure can be rendered simple and inexpensive as a whole, and yet which enables energy saving to be realized. The strapping machine comprising a band feeding/tightening means F adapted to conduct feeding, primary tightening, secondary tightening of a band B to be looped around a periphery of an object to be strapped and the like operation; wherein said band feeding/tightening means F is so constructed as to carry out feeding, primary tightening and secondary tightening of the band B by driving a roller 8 by means of a driving means M2 which is capable of being controlled among rotation, reverse rotation and stopped state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strapping machine, in particular, it relates to a strapping machine adapted to be capable of automatically or semi-automatically conducting a procedure which includes looping a band made of a tape of a thermoplastic resin such as a polypropylene around an object to be strapped, and fusion-bonding an overlapping portion of the band to effect strapping.

2. Description of the Prior Art

To realize heightened efficiency and energy saving in a strapping operation, a strapping machine has already been practically used in general which is adapted to be capable of conducting a procedure that includes looping a band made of a thermoplastic resin tape around an object to be strapped, tightening the band, fusion-bonding the resulting nodally overlapping end portion of the band under heat and pressure, and cutting the band.

In such a conventional strapping machine, two-stage tightening is generally conducted as an operation for tightening a band, which comprises a primary tightening for high-speed/low-torque tightening of a band and a secondary tightening under low-speed/high-torque operation (see, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 13205/1992).

Of the conventional strapping machines, a strapping machine has been known which is provided with an electric motor such as an induction motor for driving cams such as a press, a heater, a slide and the like for strapping with a band to cause timely shifted rotations thereof, and an electromagnetic clutch interposed between the electric motor and each of the cams, thereby intermittently controlling the driving force of the electric motor by means of the electromagnetic clutch (see, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 69774/1991, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58613/1989).

In such a conventional strapping machine, there is a problem that when the electric motor such as an induction motor is stopped by being locked via the electromagnetic clutch, an undesired temperature elevation is inevitably caused due to electrical current continuously applied to the electric motor, and thereby failure of the driving means is likely to be caused. Consequently, durability is adversely affected, and cumbersome maintenance operations such as replacement and adjustment of parts is unavoidably required to be conducted frequently. There is a further problem that various equipments such as a power source for driving the electromagnet clutch and the like are required, thereby leading to a complicated structure with many equipments. This is, as a whole, disadvantageous in terms of cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of these problems. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a strapping machine which enables a prolonged life of the driving force supplying means for feeding/tightening a band such as an electric motor to be realized, and which enables maintenance operations such as replacement and adjustment of the parts to be carried out with ease, and whose structure can be rendered simple and inexpensive as a whole, and yet which enables energy saving to be realized.

To attain the above-mentioned object, the strapping machine according to the present invention basically comprises:

a band feeding/tightening means F adapted to conduct feeding, primary tightening, secondary tightening of a band B to be looped around a periphery of an object to be strapped and the like operation;

wherein said band feeding/tightening means F is so constructed as to carry out feeding, primary tightening and secondary tightening of the band B by driving a roller 8 by means of a driving means M2 which is capable of being controlled among rotation, reverse rotation and stopped state.

More specifically, the driving means preferably includes a stepping motor, and more preferably, the stepping motor is unitarily provided with a reduction mechanism to transmit driving force from the stepping motor to the roller at a reduced speed.

In the strapping machine according to the present invention which is constructed as described above, a band is fed by the operation of the band feeding/tightening means via the roller, and the band is looped around a periphery of an object to be strapped, and then primary tightening and secondary tightening are conducted via the identical roller. By virtue of this, a simplified band feeding/tightening means is realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of the strapping machine according to the present invention, which is illustrated with its top plate removed by way of generally showing interior thereof;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the strapping machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side view taken along the line III--III and viewed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the operative portion in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the operative portion in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the feed/backfeed stepping motor M2 used in the embodiment of the strapping machine according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of the strapping machine according to the present invention, which is illustrated with its top plate removed by way of generally showing the interior thereof. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the same. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side view of the same taken along the line III--III and viewed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the strapping machine 1 according to the illustrated embodiment comprises a box-like strapping machine body 10 as a frame member which includes posts 3, 3, . . . having their lower ends provided with casters 2, 2, . . . , a top plate 4 horizontally mounted on and spanning the upper ends of the posts 3, 3, . . . , a side plate 5 surrounding four sides of the frame member, monitoring windows (not shown) openably formed at appropriate positions in the side plate 5 and the like. On the top of the strapping machine body 10, a band guiding arch (not shown) which is tubular and formed into a staple-like shape for automatically putting a band B around an object to be strapped may further be mounted, if desired. The posts 3, 3 . . . , and the top plate 4 are, for example, integrally formed by extrusion molding of aluminum.

In the strapping machine body 10, a band reel 6 is disposed with its shaft 6a transversely set which is capable of being loaded with a band coil. In the strapping machine body 10, in a portion opposite to the portion where the band reel 6 is located (right portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) and at an upper level is (beam-wise) fixedly mounted a supporting plate 11 which extends horizontally and transversely, and on the upper surface of the supporting plate 11 is fixedly mounted a frame 12 having a horizontal cross-section of a staple-like shape. Between right and left side plates 12b and 12a of the frame 12 is disposed a means K for feeding a band and nodal end treatment (detailed description is given hereinbelow) which includes various cams and arms for holding, pressing, fusing, and cutting of the band B. On the outer surface of the left side plate 12a of the frame 12 is mounted a cam driving stepping motor M1 provided with a speed reducer 7 for driving the means K for band feeding and nodal end treatment in alignment with the means K. Outside the right side plate 12b is fixed in juxtaposition therewith a band feeding/tightening (hereinafter also referred to as "feed/backfeed") means F including a reversely rotatable feed/backfeed stepping motor M2, a feed/backfeed roller 8, a rocker roller 9 and the like.

Then, the strapping machine 1 according to the illustrated embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the operative portion in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the operative portion in FIG. 3.

First, explanation is given with respect to the means K for band feeding and nodal end treatment.

Driving force from the cam driving stepping motor M1 is decelerated by means of the speed reducer 7 and transmitted to a cam shaft 14 journaled on a rolling bearing 13. The cam shaft 14 is transversely mounted between the side plates 12a and 12b of the frame 12, and on the part of the right side plate 12b, it is journaled on a rolling bearing 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, a heater cam 21, a front clamp cam 22, a press cam 23, a slide cam 24, a rear cam 25, and an inner slide cam 26 are fit on the cam shaft 14, and locked by a key 16. Each of the cams 21-26 is formed by laminating two planar pieces duplicate each other which have been punched out in a predetermined shape by means of a punching press. To form an appropriate spacing between each neighboring cams, planar spacers 17, 17, . . . , which are of the same circular shape and made of a plastic or the like, are interposed between the cams, and the spacers 17, 17, . . . and the cams 21-26 are securely screwed together by means of bolts 18, 18.

Between the right and left side plates 12b and 12a, a front clamp 40 is disposed which vertically moves in response to rotation of the clamp cam 22. The front cramp 40 comprises a spring inserting portion 41 having a gate-shaped cross-section, an elongate flat arm 43 formed integrally with the spring inserting portion 41 and having its root end formed with a partially cut away ring portion 43a pivotally mounted on a pivot 42, and a head 45 fixed onto the spring inserting portion 41 by bolts or the like. The front clamp 40 is formed by extrusion molding of material such as aluminum, and a guide aperture 44 for guiding a band during feeding is formed in the head 45 by perforation.

To the inner surfaces of right and left legs (when viewed in section) of the spring inserting portion 41, cam roller supporting members 51, 51 made of a steel are attached which extend transversely (in the right direction in FIG. 5) from the spring inserting portion 41 in parallel with the arm 43. In an upper portion of the space defined by the cam roller supporting members 51, 51, a spring member 46 which exhibits buffer action is inserted. In a lower portion thereof, a cam roller 52 which swings in response to the motion of the clamp cam 22 is held between the cam roller supporting members 51, 51. The cam roller supporting member 51 is pivotally mounted on the arm 43 of the front clamp at its root end 51a, and a spring member 53 is interposed between the root end 51a and the supporting plate 11 for biasing to cause the cam roller 52 to be pressed against the cramp cam 22.

Likewise, the press 55 and the rear clamp 56 have substantially the same structures as that of the front clamp 40 (detailed explanation on the structures is accordingly omitted), and are provided with cam rollers 57, 58 which swing in response to the motions of the press cam 23 and the clamp cam 25, respectively. In this connection, a cutter member 59 for cutting a band is unitedly fixed onto an upper side edge of the press 55.

As shown in FIG. 5, a heater member 61, a slide member 62 and a middle slide member 63 are swingably arranged in the vicinity of the upper end of the space between the side plates 12a and 12b. The heater member 61 comprises a heater plate 64 located on its upper end, and a heater arm 65 fixed to the lower surface of the heater plate 64 and extending downward. The heater arm 65 is swingably journaled on a pivot 30 transversely mounted between the side plate 12a and 12b. The heater arm 65 is adapted to be swingable in association with the heater cam 21 via a cam roller 71.

Likewise, the slide member 62 comprises a slide arm 66 journaled on the pivot 30, and a slide table 67 fixed to the upper surface of the slide arm 66. The slide arm 66 is adapted to be swingable in association with the slide cam 24 via a cam roller 72.

Further, on the pivot 30, the middle slide member 63 is disposed opposite to the heater member 61 and the slide member 62. In other words, the slide member 63 comprises a middle slide arm 73 journaled on the pivot 30, and a middle slide 74 which is fixed to the upper end of the middle slide arm 73 and to which a limit switch L is fixedly attached. The middle slide arm 73 is adapted to be swingable in association with the slide cam 26 via a cam roller 75. In this connection, between the lower ends of the arms 65,66 and 73 of the heater member 61, slide member 62 and middle slide member 63 and the supporting plate 11, spring members 76, 76 and 76 for biasing are interposed to cause the cam rollers 71,72 and 75 to be pressed against the heater cam 21, slide cam 24, and middle slide cam 26, respectively.

Next, the band feeding/tightening means F is described.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the feed/backfeed stepping motor M2. The stepping motor M2 according to the illustrated embodiment comprises a motor body 81, and a gear case 83 unitarily fixed to the motor body 81 on the side from which an output shaft 82 protrudes. In the gear case 83, a feed/backfeed roller shaft 86 is journaled via antifriction bearings 84, 85 to protrude forward (toward the left in FIG. 6). A feed/backfeed roller reversibly rotating gear 88 which mates with teeth 87 formed in the tip portion of the output shaft 82 is fixedly mounted on the feed/backfeed roller shaft 86 in the vicinity of the end thereof in the gear case 83. On the other hand, the feed/backfeed roller 8 is fixedly mounted on the distal end portion of the feed/backfeed roller shaft 86. In the vicinity of the periphery of the gear case 83, a mounting rod 89 for fixing a band guide cover 98 in front of the feed/backfeed roller 8 is so fitted into the gear case 83 as to protrude forward. The rocker roller 9 is mounted in such a manner that it is normally caused to be pressed against the feed/backfeed roller 8 by means of a biasing means (not shown) (see FIG. 4).

As is seen from FIG. 4, the band B wound on the band reel 6 is led sequentially via a twist roller 92, an idle roller 93 and through the abutting portion between the feed/backfeed roller 8 and the rocker roller 9, a tubular band guide member 94, the guide aperture 44 of the front clamp 40, a gap between the press 55 and the middle slide 74, a gap between the rear clamp 56 and the slide table 67 and the like, and caused to emerge out of the top plate 4. Then, the band B is led making a loop around an object to be strapped (when a band arch is placed, the loop is formed in the course of passing the band B through the inner path of the band arch), and the leading end of the band B is reintroduced into the strapping machine 1 from a band introducing aperture 95 formed beside the slide table 67 and passed through a gap between the slide table 67 and the middle slide 74 and caused to touch the limit switch L, thereby completing setting.

Next, the operation of the strapping machine having such a structure according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When a starting switch of a controlling device (not shown) is controlled to actuate the stepping motor M2 for feeding/backfeeding, the feed/backfeed roller 8 starts in rotation to feed the band B. The band B is looped around an object to be strapped with a clearance therebetween, as described above, and caused to touch the limit switch L to stop the feed/backfeed stepping motor M2, thereby completing setting of the band B.

Then, the cam driving stepping motor M1 is actuated to rotate the clamp cam 22, and by the motion of the cam roller 52 which is a follower of the clamp cam 22, the arm 43 is swung upward about the pivot 42 to boost the clamp 40, so that the leading end of the band B thus fed is clamped between the upper end surface of the clamp 40 and the lower surface of the slide table 67. Thereupon, the cam driving stepping motor M1 stops while the feed/backfeed stepping motor M2 starts in rotation in the direction of tightening (backfeed) reverse to the direction of feeding (feed) to carry out primary tightening under high-speed/low-torque operation. When the band B is caused to abut upon the peripheral surface of the object under strapping to such an extent that a predetermined tension is exerted on the band B, operation mode of the feed/backfeed stepping motor M2 is automatically switched over to low-speed/high-torque rotation by means of a tension sensor to conduct secondary tightening. Throughout the durations of the primary and secondary tightening, the operation of the cam driving stepping motor M1 is maintained in a stopped state.

Subsequently, when the tension exerted upon the band B by the secondary tightening reaches an upper limit set in the tension sensor, the cam driving stepping motor M1 is actuated again, thereby bringing the rear clamp cam 25 into operation to boost the rear clamp 56. Consequently, the rear of the overlapping nodal portion is clamped between the upper surface of the rear clamp 56 and the lower surface of the slide table 67.

Then, the heater arm 65 and the middle slide arm 73, which respectively support the heater plate 64 and the middle slide 74 that are located oppositely each other in the width direction of the band B, swing to-and-fro in association with each other about the pivot 30 via the cam rollers 71 and 75 which are respectively caused to operate in response to the rotational motions of the heater cam 21 and the middle slide cam 26. In other words, when the middle slide 74 is caused to slide in the direction retreatal from the position adjoining to the nodally overlapping portion of the band B (the right direction in FIG. 5), concurrently therewith, the heater plate 64 is also caused to slide (being preceded by the middle slide 74) in the same direction (the right direction in FIG. 5). In this manner, the heater plate 64 is inserted into the gap in the overlapping portion of the band B, in which the band B is vertically spaced each other under tension, in place of the middle slide 74. Thereupon, the press 55 is boosted by the operation of the press cam 23 and the cam roller 57 to sandwich-wise press the band B in the overlapping portion on the heater plate 64, thereby simultaneously effecting fusion of the facing surfaces of the band B. In this connection, the press 55 is first pressed lightly against the overlapping portion of the band B, and then once caused to descend. Thereupon, the heater plate 64 is caused to retreat from the overlapping portion of the band B (toward the left side in FIG. 5), and then the press 55 is boosted again to cut the band B with the cutter member 59 at a position proximate to the front clamp 40. The press 55 is now strongly pressed against the overlapping portion of the band B, and in this condition, the overlapped portion of the band B is cooled for a predetermined period of time (for example, 1 to 1.7 sec.). Thereafter, the press 55 is caused to descend. Incidentally, during the first pressing operation and the cooling, the cam driving stepping motor M1 is kept in a stopped state with the press 55 kept at the boosted position.

Finally, the slide table 67, which has been kept at substantially the same level as the upper surface of the top plate 4 throughout the above-mentioned procedure, is caused to swing about the pivot 30 in the retreatal direction (the left direction in FIG. 5) via the cam roller 72 which is a follower of the slide cam 24, the slide arm 66 and the like.

A stepping motor can freely be controlled between rotation and stopped state of its output shaft in response to pulse signals from a controlling device, and can be imparted with both high-speed/low-torque and low-speed/high-torque operational functions. Further, since a stepping motor requires no feedback control and is controlled by open loop control, a control circuit therefor has a simple structure. Consequently, a stepping motor per se has a simple and compact structure. Therefore, the use of a stepping motor as the feed/backfeed motor enables band feeding operation and primary and secondary band tightening operations to be carried out in the presence only of one roller, and yet enables an extremely simplified structure to be attained because of reduced number of parts.

Hereinbefore, one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail. It is, however, to be understood that the present invention is by no means restricted to the above-described embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing form the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

For example, although the stepping motor M2 is used as the feed/backfeed motor for effecting feeding/tightening of a band in the illustrated embodiment, another type of motor may of course be used as long as it is capable of being controlled among rotation, reverse rotation and stopped state.

As understood from the above description, according to the present invention, a prolonged life of the driving force supplying means for feeding/tightening a band such as an electric motor can be attained, and maintenance operations such as replacement and adjustment of the parts can be carried out with ease, and a compact, simple and inexpensive structure can be attained as a whole, and yet energy saving can be realized. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A strapping machine comprising:a band feeding/tightening means (F) adapted to conduct feeding, primary tightening, secondary tightening of a band (B) to be looped around a periphery of an object to be strapped; wherein said band feeding/tightening means (F) is so constructed as to carry out feeding, primary tightening and secondary tightening of the band (B) by driving a roller (8) by means of a driving means including a stepping motor (M2) which is capable of being controlled among an extent of rotation, a direction of rotation and a stopped state; and said roller is normally caused to be pressed against another roller (9) by biasing means.
 2. The strapping machine according to claim 1, wherein said stepping motor (M2) is unitarily provided with a reduction mechanism (83, 87, 88) to transmit a driving force from said stepping motor (M2) to said roller (8) at a reduced speed.
 3. The strapping machine according to claim 1, wherein said driving means includes means for rotating the stepping motor in a forward direction to feed the band so as to be looped around an object, for then maintaining the stepping motor in a stopped state during clamping of the band, for then rotating the stepping motor in a reverse direction to carry out primary tightening under high speed, low torque operation, and for then further rotating the stepping motor in the reverse direction to carry out secondary tightening under low speed, high torque operation. 